The two soldiers

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THE

TWO SOLDIERS.

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THE

ft

TWO SOLDIERS,

TW O Soldiers, Robert Welis and
Ifaac Clark, had obtained a three
months furlow from their Colonel, to
vifit their relations and friends in a very
diftant part of England. On their return
to join their regiment, which was quar-
tered at Gloucefter, having travelled till
they were weary, they propofed lying
by for the night, at a little alehoufe
called the Green Dragon, near the road
fide.

Wells obferving the houfe was pret-
ty much thronged with company; pro-
pofed to his companion to journey

on

( 3 )

oil to the next, where they might fpend
the night in more quiet, than the prefent
profpeft of things offered at the Green
Dragon.

I'll not ftir a ftep farther to-night, faid
Clark, for where there is good company
and good liquor, there I'll make my
head quarters ; fo throwing his knap-
Tack on the horfe-block, down he fat
himfelf.

The Green Dragon was famous for
brewing the beft ale in thofe parts, and
of courfe became the general rendez-
vous of all the five-players and (kittle-
players in the country; fo very famous
indeed was the liquor, that it introduced
beggary, and famine amongft the wives
and children in all the neighbouring cot-
tages.

A filver-laced hat had been bowled
fo* that evening, and the prize was won
by a young farmer, who fpying our tra-
vellers, fwore a tremendous oath they
fhould drink a bumper to the King's
health.

After they had drunk plentifully*
Wells twitched his comrade by the
fhoulder, and propofed that they Ihould

proceed on their march; now they had

been

( 4 )

been refrefhed with a friendly mug;
Clark, with an oath, refufcd to comply,
again repeating " the foldier's beft head
quarters was at the head of the beer
barrel y it {hall never be faid Wells,
that Ifaac Clark was a ftarter, where the
liquor was found, and the company
good.

The liquor is very good fure e-
nough, faid Wells, who ■ was naturally
a very fober fellow, but enough is as
good as a feaft : and as to the company,
I never beheld a worfe let of drunken,
fwearing reprobates in my life, for
which reafon let us on, for if we can-
not make them better; they may m^ke
us worfe.

Thou art always for preaching Bob,
faid Clark, as if a body were going toj
die ; why I was never in better healths
in my life ; and 'tis time enough to be
forry for one's fins, when the laft glafs
is out, fo halloo Tap bring us another
pot.

Thus in fpight of the perfuafions oJ
poor Wells, he went on calling for a,i
nother mug, and another till he was!
as drunk as a beaft; and his brains
whirled round like the vanes of a windj;

mill!

( 5 ]

ftrill. Unhappily in fome degree,
Wells fell into the fame error • biit
unaccuftomed to take more than his
pint, and being quite overcome with
fatigue, he felt himfelf extremely dif-
ordered, and daggering into the freih
air, he fell flat on the grafs plat, where
he lay in a dead fleep all night ; nor
did he awake till the day was pretty
far advanced ; when his teeth chat-
tered in his head, and his limbs fttr-
vered with cold, for the night was
damp, and mifty. As foon as he was
able to ftand, he daggered in fearch of
Clark, whom he found in a ftill more
deplorable ftate, for he had continued
drinking till he was as mad as the reft
of his companions : They grew quar-
rclfome at length, and each took of-
fence at the other, till words proceeded
to blows, and blows ended in blood;
for a very profligate young butcher,
{truck his neighbour the Ihoemakcr
fuch a violent blow acrofs the head'
with a quart pot, that his Ikull was
fraftured : This unluckv circumftance
brought the landlord to interfere, who
was alarmed for the honour of his
houfe, or to fpeak truly, the fear of

lofing:

lofing his licence at next feffions ; fo he
very prudently fent for a furgeon, whilft
the reft of the joyous crew made their
efcape, for fear of falling into the hands
ofjuftice.

Our travellers left the Green Dragon.
Clark's head was ftill too confufed
with liquor to permit him to think; but
Wells, who was now quite come to him-
felf, was overcome with fhame ; and in-
wardly vowed, that if the entertain-
ment he met with at the Dragon was
called a merry-making, he would
never defire to be merry again for the
reft of his days ; for what good have we
obtained by it, faid he, but empty pock-
ets, bloody nofes, aching bones, and
the rod of Juftice hanging over our
heads ? Befides what is ftill worfe, mut-
tered he to himfelf, by being overtaken
in liquor, we have loft our reafon, which
was the gift of God, and was given man
as a precious token of his favour, to
diftinguifh him from the brute-beaft that
perifheth.

Clark as they journeyed on, was
fpightful, fullen, and fix I ky : Now and
then muttering, that fpight of the paft he
would get good ale wherever it wats to
be had*

( 7 )

And I, faid Wells, Would make %
vow to drink water for the reft of my
days, rather than ever make myfelf a
beaft again, for I have a character to
maintain; and a foul to be faved, — And
I'll tell thee Bob what is my defign, re-
joined Clark, to fwim in ftrong beer
whenever' I can find it, if poverty and
death both (tared me in the face.

Thou talkcft like a bold fellow, faid
Wells, and yet thou mayeft tremble
when death comes in fight: prithee where
doft think to go when thou dieft ? I have
never once thought about dying Bob, 1
aflure thee. Then k is beft thou fhould-
eft begin Ifaac, for in the midft of life,
we are in death, as I heard the Parfon
fay at rav grandfather's funeral. Time
too is fliort when meafured againft
eternity ; and if we make in the fpring
great preparations for a fummers cam-
paign in the army, what conllant prepa-
rations ought we not to be making for
death !'

We foldiers, Ifaac, fhould be parti-
. cularly careful to keep our accounts
between God and our totals very fhort,
fince at the beat of the drum on the

day

day of battle, ten thoufand may rufh
in a moment into eternity; and the
beft Chriftian then may be rec koned the
boldeft Man. Why I would rather
fpend the next night in battle, for there
I fhould be performing my duty to my
King and country, than in another fuch a
riot at the Green Dragon.

Thou art a wiihv wafliy fellow,
replied Clark, thou wilt never die
Game, if for every little offence thou
art fo plagued with qualms of confci-
cnce : I am determined to live my
own way Bob, come on't what will.
Then take my word for it, faid Wells,
thy ruin is not far off; for though in a
fit of bravery thou mayeft appear to
ffiake off the fear of God, the Devil may
give up thy indentures at the laft, and
the law may take hold of thee in the mean

time." .. -^S^ki'^i • ^'■■^i^m^^^i^
Then coming to a fine ftream of

water, Wells ftooped down, and ta-
king up fome in his hat, drank plen-
tifully of it, faying it cooled the fever
in his ftomach. Clark faid he was
feverifih alfo, but he fhould cool his
thirft with a glafs of beft Holland's at
the next alehoufe which they faw at

fome

( 9 )

fome diftance on the fide of the hilL
There however they agreed to flop;
After having made a plentiful break
faft, they called for their bill, when to
their great difmay they found their
pockets entirely emptied of cafh, ex-
cept two fhillings and a few halfpence,
each having loft between two and three
guineas, which had been given them by
their friends to defray the expences of
their journey.

By what means they had been {trip-
ped of their cafh, they could not ima
gine ; whether the landlord had made
free with their pockets to pay himfelf,
or that it had flipped out in the gene-
ral feu ffle ; they were greatly difmay-
ed however by their misfortune, for
they had more than fifty miles to travel,
and not more than ten pence left after
the prefeiit expences were difcharged ;
and when the night came on, they were
compelled to feek the mod comfortable
lodging they Gould find under a hay-
ftack.

We ought not to complain of our
hard fate, faid Wells, fince what we
are about to fuffer is but part of the
punifhment due to our folly. With

A 5 fobriety,

*fobriely, and good management, our
money would have enabled us to travel
comfortably, and at the end of our jour-
ney we fhould have had plenty to fpare ;

-to have given a treat to our comrades,
who have been often kind to us on a
like occafion.

I'll never return to the regiment to
be laughed at, faid Clark mutteringly,
I am almoft famiflied to death — I'll
defert. Prithee Ifaac, faid Wells, look
well to thy words, and before thou art
tempted to commit a great fin, afk thy-
felf, how thou fhalt like to bear the-
punifhment when thou art found out :
and if thou fhouldeft efcape being
brought to Juftice while on earth, it
will find thee out in the day of judg-
ment. Take my word for it, he is the
only free, and I may add happy man,
who is always doing the work of him who
xnade him. Talk no more of defertion
then, dear Ifaac, let us bear our misfor-
tune like men, and as our catechifm fays,
patiently refolve to do " our duty in
" that ftate of life unto which it hath
" pleafed God to call us."

When I was a child, Bob, faid Clark 5
I never learnt my catechifm; learning,

which

( » )

which I have heard thee fay, has kept thec
> out of fo many fcrapes, I hated; for I
was a boy of {pint, Moved boxing, five-
playing — and robbing of orchards, a deal
better than my book.

So much the worfe for thee Ifaac, a
fober education to a poor man will help
him on in the world much more credit
tably than a little eftate without it ; for
lazinefs and drunkennefs will foon bring
a pretty property to nothing, and thou
mayeft have heard that

I * _ « When Land is gone* and Money fpent,
" Then Learning is moft excellent."

Honefty is the beft policy, Ifaac, and
a good 'name is better than great
riches. Think no more of defening
then, thou haft taken the King's money,
and a ftrong oath to ferve him faith! ally,
take care then that thy red coat be not
ftained with black (pots'. Coniider we are
all Gentlemen Soldiers, then let us not
difgrace ourfelves by carrying the bloody
marks of the rod 'of correction on our
backs; if thou art refolved to behave
fo as to deferve punifhment, don't
murmur againft the laws which inuit

.1 .vAi& it. The laws, Ifaac, are only
n 3 to protect ■ honcjt men from the
. [bares of = villains. Courage man, don't ,
defpair of finding a breakfaft in the morn-
ing ; mayhap we may meet with fome
^ood, charitable, well difpofed people,
to. whom we will relate ©ur misfortune,
and our difgrace, for I fhan't be afhamed
i to afk'for bread now my folly has reduced
me to afk for it.

This is fine talking, replied Clark,
do as thou wilt Bob, but my pride is
above it ; in this beggarly ftarved con-
dition, 1 11 never join the regiment, to be
fneered and jeered at by every one; fo
I am refolved to have my own way for
once.

Then remember, Ifaac, 'tis a .dangers
ons thing for a man to give himfelf
up to the evil of his ways : I am only
talking to thee for thy good, and fince
thou art determined to have thy own
w T ay in every thing, I will only fur-
ther aclvife thee to think, how thou
can'ft bear punifhment, before thou
committed a fin which will fooner or
later bring down the vengeance of the
law againd thee. Have a good heart
; man, pluck up, that we may be able

to

( 13 y

Co begin our march by break of day,
and as I faid before, we may meet with
fome kind alfiftance on the road : this is
a charitable land, Ifaao, and there are
few people in it who are not ready to
relieve diftrefs, when it is known to be
real ; and if .we fhould be repulfed at a
furly door, we mull not be angry, and
unforgiving, fince the kind hearts of the
wealthy are fo often impofed upon, by
falfe ftories of misfortunes, that it often
Hints up their bowels of compaffion,
when real mifery ftands before them. —
Man's nature, Clark, becomes fufpici-
ous, when it has often been impofed
upon.

My pride now is to meet our regi-
ment, before the time of our furlow is
expired ; it will give us great credit
with our Colonel, who is the very beft
of men, and w^ho, feeing that w 7 e have
made a generous ufe of the power in-
trufted to us, will not be afraid to in-
dulge us again, at a fit time. For feven
years that I have been in the regiment,
I have never received an ill w T ord, or an
unkind look, from my officers, beeaufe
I always made it my pleafure to do my
duty.

My

t H )

My pleafure, then replied Clark, is to
have my own way. I don't care a rufli
for any man 4 I 'don't care for the General,
I don't care for the Colonel, nor I don't
care for the Captain — fo I have made up
my mind as to that matteV — 111 have
food whilft I can eat it— drink when I
can get it-— and money and pleafure
wherever I can find them.

Clark, thou doft make me tremblb
fadly, faid Wells, to hear thee talk fo
defperately : do turn thy thoughts to-
wards God, for there feems to be a
ftrong temptation upon thee— humble
thyfelf before him, tell him thou art a
miferable iinner, and beg his mercy to
affift thee in thy diftrefs, ^on't go on
adding fin to fin ; we have been both
guilty of an heinous fault ; let us take
this leffon of inftruftion out of it, and
refolve to do fo no more. — Mv father
was an honeft labourer, and he ufed
to tell all his children, that drunken-
nefs was fure to bring three evils to
every labouring man, namely— fick-
nefs, hunger, and rags ; befides no fin
makes the heart fo hard as drunken-
nefs. A drunkard is without pity, fince
be can behold his wife and children

dying

( ±5 )

dying of famine, becaufe his own
beaftly appetite muft have its fill of
Liquor at the Village Ale-houfe.

Thou art preaching to a deaf man,
interrupted Clark, 111 have my own
way I tell thee again and again : it is
time enough to rail againft pleafure,
when one has no power left to enjoy it*

Thou wilt live to repent thy fay-
ings, take my word for it, faid Wells,
for my part I would rather eat a hard
cruft for my dinner, than dine with
the Officers on Roaft Beef and Plum
pudding, if I muft do dirty work to
obtain it. I w 7 ould dine with any
man, faid Clark, who would give me a
dinner — and drink with any man that
would offer me his cup— though per-
haps he did expeft a little underhand
bufinefs of me in return — 1 am refolv-
ed to ferve myfelf Bob, and there's an
end of my Chapter.

And a forrowful ending it is, an-
fwered Wells, and fo good-night;
drawing fome of the loofe hay about
him, and placing his Knapfack under
his head for a pillow ; I fhall fay my
Players Ifaac, for if I am taken off in
fay fleep, 'tis a good thing for a Man

to

( 16 )

to have had his laft waking thoughts em-
ployed on the goodnefs of God.

Wells flept fweetly, till the rifing fun
mining on his face awakened him : he
called aloud to his companion,- telling
him it was time to prepare for their
journey; he called again, and again;
but ft ill no aufwer was made him ; he
then rofe to go in fearch of him, but he
was no where to be found.

After waiting his return for near an
hour, and finding he did not appear, he
fet forward on his journey ; after tra-
velling fome miles he began to find
hunger very keen, and feeing alow farm
houfe at a diftance, he ftruck acrofs a
field and made up to it : Wells rapped
at the door, which being opened by the
miftrefs of the houfe, he very modeftly
afked her to give him a cup of whey, or a
draught of fmall beer, for he was a good
deal diftrefled.

Diftreffcd — aye to be fure, faid fhe f
the times are fo hard, the world is full
of diftrefs.

The hardnefs of the times, ma'am, faid
Wells, has nothing to do with my diftrefs,
fince 'tis all the confequence of my own
folly.

You

f *7 )

You muft be an extraordinary man,
Mafter' Soldier, faid Mrs. Jenkins, to
confefs that your own crimes have
brought you to hunger.

I tell you nothing but the triith, faid
Wells, and hungry as I am, I would
not impofe a lie upon you, to obtain
the beft mouthful in your houfe; peo-
ple in general rail at the badnefs of the
times, when nine times out of ten, they
owe their mifery to their extravagance ;
two nights ago my fellow traveller,
and myfelf, accidentally fell into bad
company, we got drunk and we loft
our money; I have a journey of more
than forty miles to make, and I have not
a fixpence left to furnifti me with provi-
fions.

Follow me to the kitchen, faid the
good woman, and I will give you the
beft my houfe affords, I love a foldier
to my heart, becaufe he fights for my
country • but when I find a foldier
to be a chriftian, I love him to my
foul, becaufe our country may ftand
a better chance to be preferved from
the enemy in time of war, if our
Soldiers are Chriftians : and fmce
my honeft friend, you ha'n't the cou-
rage

( i« 3

rage to tell a lie to God, I'm certain fare
you'll never fail in doing your duty to-
wards your country.

Wells now fed heartily on fame cold
pork and cabbage, and drank prudently
of an excellent mug of cyder, that ftood
before him. •

After filently thanking the Giver of
all good for a bleffing he fo little ex-
pected, and fo little deferved, he was
about to take his leave of his kind hoft-
efe ; when a huftlinq;. was heard in the
palfage, and foon after the room was
tilled by a croud of people, in the midft
of whom Wells faw his unfortunate com- ,
radc Clark, with his hands tied behind
him. His heart now mifgave him, and
it was as clear to him as the light, before
it was explained to him, that Clark had
been as good as his word, and would
have his own way let come on't what
wonld. He was as pale as death, his
jaws trembled, and the tears ran down his
cheeks.

The farmer now explained to his
wife, that they had taken the villain
who laft night would have robbed the
poft-chaife, but was prevented by a
gentleman within it, who let fly a

brace

f 19 )

brace of piftols at him, which made him
keep his diftance ; that early this morn-
ing, as he was riding to market, he him-
felf had been attacked by him, before it
was light ; but fome of the neighbours
coming to his affiftance, they determined
to purfue the rogue, and came up with
him about two miles off, as he was en-
tering an alehoufe ; I have fent to the
fquire's, added the farmer, to advertife
the gentleman who is at his houfe, that
the robber is taken, and I hope he will
foon be here.

Here poor Clark wept bitterly; Ah!
Bob, Bob ! faid he, fpying Wells, had
I taken thy kind advice, I fhould never
have been brought to this— I fhould
have lived like a man and died like a
chriftian, but Lord have mercy upon
me, what have I brought myfelf to ! I
have brought my life into danger, and
may be have ruined my own foul.

Honeft Wells was grieved at heart*
O Ifaac! cried he, could I have prefer-
ved thee from fuch a grievous misfor-
tune, I would have fhared my laft
morfel with thee ; my prayers are now
all I can oifer thee 3 and by prayer only

thou

£0 }

thou can'ft ferve thyfelf, for the prayer
of a penitent even when offered up in a
prifon may be accepted: If by timely re-
pentance, Ifaac, thou can'ft win the fa-
vour of Heaven, thou wilt find comfort
under every affliftion.

Here the gentleman arrived whofe
carriage had -been Hopped the preced-
ing evening ; Clark no fooner caught
a glimpfe of him than he knew him to
be his own Colonel. A man whom every
perfon in the regiment loved and ho-
noured as a parent. O my gracious
father, exclaimed Clark, feeing, this
honourable gentleman enter, my pu-
nifhment is already greater than I can-
bear, if I have offended the man I would
die to ferve. He then fainted away, but
a little warm ale being given him, he
foon recovered : when the noble Colonel
fpoke fo mildly, and kindly to him,
that Mrs. Jenkins put her apron to her
eyes-
Here Wells related to the Colonel
what had paffed ; he fhook like an afpen
leaf, when he came to relate they forrow-
ful adventures which befel them at the
Green Dragon ; and all the grief and af-
fliction which had befallen him in confe-
rence of ru

( 21 )

When Wells had finifhed his ftory,
your father, Clark, faid the Colonel,
could not feel more concern at your
prefent fituation than I do ; I have al-
ways regarded every man in my re-
giment as my fon ; for I have always
tried to win their affection by kindnefs
rather than inforce their obedience by
feverity. A m^n of true courage, Clark,
abhors the thought of a bafe action, but
if he lives without principle in his heart,
he muft not be furprifed, if fooner or la-
ter he is betrayed by his paflions into the
blackeft fins ; and if he is taken in the
commiffion of a crime, he muft expe&to
pay the penalty of the law.

Poor Clark groaned and wept bitterly
while the Colonel thus continued, I am
thankful that I wounded no man when
I fired my piftols on being {topped laft
night in my carriage. As the night was
much too dark for me to be able to give
evidence as to the identity of the per-
fon who flopped me, yon may ex-
peft, Clark, that no bill of indictment
will be preferred againft you by me, it
is a moft dreadful thing for any man to
take an oath 5 when he is n?ot pofitive

a;;

( 22 j

as to the faft he is goiri|j to fwear to ;
the Farmer I fear, from having fecured
your perfon has certain evidence to
bring againft you, but that is a bufinefs
in which I have no right to interfere,
as your examination mult take place
before a neighbouring Juftice of the
Peace. Whether the faQ: be, or be
not proved againft you, here is a trifle
to fupport you, in cafe you fhould get
your difcharge ; that you may not
plead your wants, as an excufe for
committing fuch a dreadful outrage
againft Society ; after what is paft it
will be highly improper to admit you
again into the Regiment; in future
learn to labour with diligence, live
foberly, then you will live honeftly ;
be fteady and conftant in attending on
all the duties which your Church en-
joins you — learn to fear God, honour
the King, and be juft to your neigh-
bour.

Tears now filled the eyes of all pre-
fent, Mrs. Jenkins fobbed aloud, and
every one declared, they had never
heard fo moving a Sermon in their born
days 5 they all faid what a fine thing
fcholarfhip was when applied to chrif-

tian ufes, and what a pity it was the
noble Colonel could not be ma<le a
Bifhop. -

The Colonel condefcejaded to fpeak
to Wells, as kindly as if he had been
his equal; as for you honeft Robert,
faid he, your fteady conduct has long
been the fubjeft of my obfervation,
and my praife amongft all my brother
Officers; the fobriety of your life, and
your regularity at Church makes you
always ready in the performance of
your duty; I have long] had it in my
thoughts, to procure you fome pro-
motion, without being able to obtain
the means ; an occafion has prefented
itfelf in your abfence ; Serjeant Jeff-
erfon is dead, and I have referved his
place for you ; I know you can
both write and call accounts well; in
this poft I doubt not but you will ex-
ercife power with as much humility,
as you have hitherto pra&ifed obedi-
ence with cheerfulnefs ; and fince this
little affray has caufed you much dis-
appointment, and much delay on your
journey, I will pay your fare, and your
expences in the Stage Coach, which
I find will pafs this afternoon, that

agreeably

( 24 )

agreeably to your intentions you may
join the regiment before the tiriie of your
furlow is, expired; in order that your
conduft may ftand as ah example to your
comrades, that having been intrufted with
power, you had too .high a fcnfc of duty
to abufe it. . .

What makes the end of this little ftory
very moving, and very inftru&ive is,
that while Welfg for his honefty and
good conduct was enabled by his Colonel
to finifh his journey by the coach, at fhe
very moment in which he mounted the,
box, he faw his unfortunate comrade
Clark, with his hands tied behind him,
carried off to the county gaol, to t^ike his
trial at the next affizes, forely lamenting
his unhappy fate, and the wilful obftinacj
that made him deaf to the excellent ad-
vice of To sood a friend.

F I N I S.